Journalists allowed to tour conflicted areas in Myanmar

20 December 2016
Journalists allowed to tour conflicted areas in Myanmar
In this photograph taken on September 7, 2016, an armed police is posted on a road during a visit of former UN secretary general Kofi Annan Muslim Rohingya at the Aung Mingalar displacement camp for the minority Muslim Rohingya in Sittwe after the Rakhine State has been effectively split on religious grounds between Buddhists and Muslims since bouts of communal violence tore through the state in 2012, killing scores and forcing tens of thousands to flee. Photo: Romeo Gacad/AFP

Myanmar authorities have allowed a group of journalists from local and international media to make a three-day tour from Monday to Maungdaw township in northern Rakhine state to cover conflicts, official media reported on Monday. 
The authorities' permission was given for the tour in response to the call of Kofi Annan, chairman of the government-assigned Advisory Commission, earlier this month, to allow access to information in Rakhine state to refute rumors. 
The selected journalists include those from the Foreign Correspondents Club. 
Government spokesman U Zaw Htay said the security forces will escort the media team to the areas. 
The advisory commission, led by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, was formed in August to provide recommendation to the Myanmar government on measures for resolving the complex challenges facing Rakhine state. 
A series of fighting followed after nine policemen and five soldiers were killed in violent attacks by armed men on Oct. 9 on three border posts in Kyikanpyin of Maungdaw, Kotankauk of Rathedaung and Ngakhuya Office in the state. 
A dusk-to-dawn curfew is still being imposed on Maungdaw since Oct. 10.
Courtesy Global Times